Bengal IB set for complete makeover

Caught off guard by the Khagragarh blast and Malda violence incidents, West Bengal Intelligence Bureau is going for a complete makeover in the next few months with a separate directorate, own recruitment, new offices in districts, subject specialists and language experts.

"The matter has been cleared and there will be complete overhaul and revamp of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB).

The entire process will be completed in next few months. The State IB will be headed by a official with a rank of director. Apart from deputation from state police, it will have its own recruitment," a senior official of the state home department said on the condition of anonymity.

"In last few incidents such as Khagragarh explosion on October 2, 2014 and the Kaliachak vandalism on January 3, 2016, one of the main lacunae that had come up is the lack of proper intelligence gathering," said a senior official of state Intelligence Bureau, who did not wish to be named. In a departure from the British-era system, the State IB will have its own recruitment drive to attract youths apart from deputation from the state police services.

"In the central intelligence bureau apart from the deputation from the police forces, they also have their own recruitment of intelligence officers in middle and lower ranks.

“But we didn't have this option. we had to take people from state police on deputation, which most of the state police personnel at lower levels are not willing to do as they are more comfortable in police station postings," said the senior official of the state Home department.